Washington Wine News
Walla Walla's New Namesake?
Walla Walla is home to a disproportionate majority of the Pac NW's famous wineries. Indeed, the names of Washington wineries on wine lists from Atlanta to Denver to New York are almost exclusively from this township of 26,500 people with more millionaires per capita than Beverly Hills. As any winemaker will tell you, operating a winery will not bring this income, it's more likely the result of being a successful farmer. Nonetheless, that's not discouraged a number of folks from trying their vinous luck by starting a winery in this town whose name is becoming synonymous with classic winemaking. In fact, there are 13 more wineries coming, "and those are just the ones we know about.", says Rick Small of Woodward Canyon. Two of those whose plans are public are Pepper Bridge Winery and Walla Walla Wines, not to be confused with the up-and-running Walla Walla Vintners. Walla Walla Wines has obtained the rights to purchase a 15-acre site along Hwy. 12 west of Walla Walla. Company founders Steve Ahler, Bud Stocking and Duane Wollmuth plan to turn the land into a vineyard and winery with production facilities, tasting and retail space, and meeting room accommodations, to be named Three Rivers Winery. Construction has begun this summer and the winery should achieve full operation by the 2000 harvest. By 2001, the winery plans to produce more than 15,000 cases of "super and ultra premium" Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Chardonnay and Gewürztraminer. The winemaker is Charles Hoppes, formerly winemaker at Chateau Ste. Michelle's Canoe Ridge Estate Winery in Paterson, Wash Also near Walla Walla, construction gets underway in September on Pepper Bridge Winery which will end up a 15,000-square-foot winery. Grapegrower Norm McKibben, who operates two of the state's more recognized vineyards - Pepper Bridge and Seven Hills - said the Walla Walla, Washington winery will produce ultra-premium red wines. Walla Walla is one of the state's hottest wine regions and is one of four of Washington's American Viticultural Areas. McKibben now sells most of his fruit from the 191-acre vineyard to such wineries Leonetti, L'Ecole No. 41, Andrew Will, Hogue, Glen Fiona and Woodward Canyon. The winery is expected to be operational in time for the 2000 harvest and should reach full production in five to seven years, McKibben said. "The winery will produce 10,000 cases per year of Pepper Bridge wine - mostly cabernet sauvignon, and small amounts of merlot and
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